Texting and message scams surge, and Gen Z is being hit the hardest

A new Consumer Reports survey finds texting and messaging scams have jumped 50% in the past year, and it might surprise you that Gen Z is getting hit the hardest.

Consumer Reports reveals some smart tips to help you stop those messages and protect your money.

Whether it's a text that looks like it's from your bank or a bogus bill from a toll road, if you think you're getting more unsolicited calls, texts and messages, you're right. The new Consumer Reports Cyber Readiness Report finds scam attempts are up more than 50% and they're growing the fastest among Gen Zers.

"Scammers are trying to rip off young adults," said

Eighteen to 29 year olds are getting scammed at record levels. Reports of scam attempts from Gen Zers tripled.

"It makes sense. They text a lot. It's a primary form of communication," said Yael Grauer of Consumer Reports. "They have instant access to money on their phones."

Lower-income households were three times as likely to lose money from scams, and this could explain why: higher-income households tend to use more credit cards.

"Credit cards are safer than many other payment methods because you have the right to request a chargeback when fraudulent transactions occur," said Chuck Bell of Consumer Reprots. "Consumers who do not use credit cards have fewer rights to dispute fraud when it occurs."

How can you protect your money?

First, don't reply to random or unsolicited texts. Responding confirms your number is active. So, fraudsters might keep bugging you or sell your number. Instead, block the number and mark it as spam.

Next, cut down on text spam before it reaches you. Check with your phone carrier - most offer free tools to filter or block unwanted messages.

Also, watch out for phishing scams. Be suspicious of requests for personal information from texts, emails or messaging apps. If the message seems urgent or time-sensitive, that's another red flag.

Finally, when shopping online, use a credit card. Payment Apps like CashApp, Venmo and Zelle usually don't offer the same purchase protections.

One additional piece of protection: Use a password manager. That way, you have a strong, unique password for each account.